Abbott calls for return of North Coast shark nets

Former PM Tony Abbott loves his shark nets. File photo

Never one to stand in the way of antiquated technology, fossil fuel-supporting former prime minister Tony Abbot has now turned his attention to shark nets, calling for them to be reinstated on the NSW North Coast.

A third trial of the nets, due to start this month, was cancelled by DPI amidst a groundswell of public opinion against them.

In two trials they were shown to have an unacceptably high level of ‘bycatch’, including endangered species, many of which were found dead.

But the Warringah silver surfer told Sydney’s radio 2GB the Coalition state government’s decision was one he would expect from the Greens and demanded that the nets be returned.

‘If the meshing nets, which have done such a great job of Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle beaches for about 80 years are good for those beaches,’ Mr Abbott said ‘let’s see those beaches – er those meshing nets – extend to the North Coast.’

North Coast beaches are currently protected by the vastly superior new technology of smart drumlines, which allow sharks to be tagged and re-released, while causing minimal damage to other marine species.

Abbott demonstrates yet again his sound scientific grasp of the facts! Like Trump, he’s playing to his ‘base’, all three of them. ScoMo should make him special ambassador for ‘three word slogans, boxing, and pounds, shillings and pence, a critical portfolio in a government that rewards failed political assassins with senior government posts, and with strong scientific beliefs in the tooth fairy, a flat earth, and budgie smugglers. Oh, and I forgot, belief in a new ice age. Give me a break!

Onya Tones, it’s good to hear the voice of reason again in this area. Especially with the summer tourist season upon us, we want visitors to the north coast to feel a degree of safety instead of swimming in the dark unknown. So a few fish die in the process, is that such a big deal? Better a few tiddlers become ‘collateral damage’ than even one human life or limb be lost.

Jon, or is it ‘Captain Bligh’, your wonderful nets are next to useless. Nets or no nets we are swimming with our shark friends all the time, we can’t always see them but they are there and for the most part our shark friends leave us alone as they go about their own business. The beach nets are not the safety barrier that we are fooled into believing as more sharks are caught on the beachside of nets than are caught on the open oceanside of nets. Just think about that for a moment. Yes, we swim with the sharks even when your wonderful ‘death curtains’ nets are dangling. There is no justification for nets. No Nets!

Let’s send him back to England before this moron does more damage to this great country of ours he is living in the dark ages and can’t seem to grasp our times and fundamental principles of goodwill to our fellow humans and other species of life so let’s deport him!

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